Soon-to-be new Everton manager Frank Lampard has used his Hakim Ziyech Chelsea experiences to scout out the Toffees' latest signing of this January transfer window.
Lampard, who fended off managerial competition from Vitor Pereira and Duncan Ferguson, is already planning how he can revitalise a toxic situation at the Merseyside based club as he is officially expected to be unveiled on deadline day itself.
Everton have already spent close to £34 million on defensive full-back pair Vitaly Mykolenko and Nathan Patterson but the former Chelsea manager is planning a few late assaults on the west Londoners amongst other clubs to shape what looks to be Farhad Moshiri's disorganised project at this current moment.
It has been reported that Liverpool's local rivals have had an approach knocked back for Ruben Loftus-Cheek but Ross Barkley is another name they may move for before the deadline passes by on Monday.
Away from his beloved club though, and one man who will be joining the English manager in the city of Liverpool is Man United outcast Donny van de Beek who opted for Everton over Crystal Palace.
This is according to The Athletic who have added that Everton came to an agreement with United on Saturday and will cover Van de Beek’s full salary for the duration of his stay. The 24-year-old made his decision about his future on Sunday.
It’s also thought that the 24-year-old was previously a target for former director of football Marcel Brands ahead of this season, and has emerged as Everton’s top priority signing for this window.
Coupled with this, Lampard's admiration of Ziyech's former Ajax teammate aided their successful hijack of Patrick Vieira's side and the role of the 43-year-old in his knowledge of the Dutchmen has helped in securing this certain deal.
As per The Telegraph's Matt Law, he tweeted: "Not surprising that Lampard has pushed through the Van de Beek loan as his first Everton signing. He was a big fan of the Ajax team that reached the CL semi-finals - hence Chelsea signing Ziyech."
This tweet coincides well with what the soon-to-be Rafa Benitez successor has had to say on the Ajax team that took the Champions League by storm in the 2018/19 season.
“When we brought Hakim into the club it’s because I’d watched him a lot,” Lampard explained back at the time which could also be used to also justify how he sees Van de Beek in a similar fashion.
“We’d played against them the year before."
The Lampard and Ziyech combo didn't work out as many would have expected but could it now be second time lucky for Van de Beek and his new temporary manager that he will work under until the end of the season at the very minimum.
On another note, Joe Edwards will be joining Lampard in his new adventure up north but more positively from a Chelsea perspective, Anthony Barry will remain put with Thomas Tuchel.
